NBIO Presents: Karen Zito, PhD (University of California Davis)

Ion flux-independent NMDAR signaling in bidirectional synaptic plasticity and disease

NMDA receptors play vital roles in a broad array of essential brain functions, from synaptic transmission and plasticity to learning and memory. Historically, the fundamental roles of NMDARs were attributed to their specialized properties of ion flux. More recently, it has become clear that NMDARs can drive synaptic plasticity in an ion flux-independent manner. I will present recent data that elucidates ion flux-independent NMDAR signaling mechanisms in synaptic plasticity and their physiological consequences in health and disease.

Health Sciences G328 and Zoom